With One Exception

Greetings,

It's been a rough few days for my daughter Rayray as the puppies she so lovingly cared for over the past couple of months starting going home to their forever families this past weekend.   One by one she handed them over to their new mommies and daddies and cried her heart out in the process.  

Thankfully, she and Emilio networked their heads off,  and EVERY SINGLE CANINE  went to someone they know.  Puppy reunion anyone? On Saturday, Emilio's friend, who adopted Bobby the night before, already brought the dog back for a visit!

Letting go can be hard; moving on can be a challenge.  But Rayray knew that as soon as the litter was weaned, it would be time to say goodbye.  We humans also grow up.   Whether it's after high school,  college, or we get married, most of us will reach the day where we kiss our parents farewell, hug our abuelitas and abuelitos, smack our sibling(s) one last time, and head out into the big wide world.

This is a good thing.   Imagine if Rachel had kept all seven puppies? Imagine if my grownup kids or yours, or you yourself were still living at home and having your mom do everything for you.  I don't think Hormone would appreciate it if I reached for his 29-year-old hand to cross the street.  Hopefully, the older we get the more independent we become, with one exception.

Jesus says in John 15:5, "I am the Vine, and you are the branches. If you stayed joined to Me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit.  But separated from me You won't be able to do anything."

It doesn't matter how old we are, whether  15 or 51, we must never lose our complete and total dependence on God.  What happens if a branch falls off a vine? It dries up and produces nothing.  But if that branch stays connected and receives nourishment from that vine, the harvest is abundant.  I need all the peace, hope, guidance, calm, joy, health, love, power, and wisdom I can get.

Our human selves stay joined with His Divinity when we pray, praise, and obey His Word.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, We need a harvest of blessings.  We stay connected to You today and believe in You because You are the source of everything we need.  We will never let go because we want to be productive.  We want a bountiful crop of goodness that we can use ourselves and share with others.  In Jesus' name, AMEN. 

Goodbye, SugarBear

Not Against the Law...

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

Greetings!

This morning I was scouring the internet for news while I was enjoying my sugar-free French vanilla homemade iced coffee and came across an interesting article entitled, The Strangest Law in Every State.  Of course I read the entire thing, and I found it amusing that in Alaska, it is illegal to avoid cracks while walking on the sidewalk (too bad for all the mothers' backs out there).  In Delaware it is against the law to change clothes in your car, in Hawaii putting coins in your ears can get you in trouble, and sorry "M" - singing off key in North Carolina is a big no no! 

"Strange" is the perfect word to describes these laws. They really don't make sense, and they are unnecessary.

The verse above provides another scenario for unnecessary laws.  When the Spirit comes into our lives, we can expect to enjoy a harvest of welcomed, good, and necessary fruit.  There is no law against being kind. No prohibitions where self-control is concerned.  Joy need not worry that employing it will lead to incarceration.  We never have to second guess if somehow having patience is the wrong response. We won't get in trouble for having peace, and we won't be prosecuted for having unselfish concerns for others. 

God removes all deterrents to these behaviors by letting us know, in all of His common sense and glory, that we are free to do the right thing.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, We invite Your Spirit into our lives because we desire the fruit that comes from Him guiding us and blessing us.  Thank You that there is no law against the good things You want to produce in our lives.  We welcome extra doses of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control today.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Everything Changes~

Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night."

Today is the first day of school for many folks, my niece and nephews included.  I think back to when my own kids were little and all the excitement and sometimes apprehension that were part of starting a new school year.  I always felt a little bad about the laid-back fun days of summer being over so soon for them, but I was also glad to get a break!

One thing is for sure: EVERYTHING CHANGES.

The Bible teaches us that as long as we are alive on this earth there will be constant change in our lives.  “Change” is not a bad word.  More recently, there was an adjustment period as I got used to the idea that my chickies had flown the coop, but my entire life, as well as yours, has been one big ebb and flow of seasons. 

What matters most is how we approach the inevitable changes of life.  Do we embrace the changing season as opportunities for new blessings, or do we go into denial and hope that when we open our eyes everything is still the same?

One day as I was in deep thought about how quickly everything in my life was changing, my precious Lord whispered to me, “Yenisita, this is what you have been praying for.”

“Say what?”

Every time I prayed for one of my kids to do well in school, it was so they could pass that grade and move on up.

Every time I prayed for God to open up doors of opportunity for my husband, it was so he could head in a better direction.

Every time I prayed for my kids to make wise choices in dating, it was for the high purpose of eventually settling down and starting their own families.

If we look at it like this, then change is good and beautiful.  Nobody that I know wants their 30-year-old living at home playing video games all day.  And if in the process of change, I get older, my kids move out, and it’s just me and Jorge watching re-runs of The Andy Griffith Show, then AMEN!  I have learned to cover every thing in prayer.  The transitions and the adjustments, the changing seasons, and the brevity of life, these are all good things!  I have learned that God is God every step of the way and each new day – no matter where we are in life – brings blessings.  Let us pray that we can all successfully embrace the changes in life. 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that even as we live through so many changes, You remain steadfast in our lives.  You are with us each step of the way.  Help us be like the woman in Proverbs 31:25 who “smiles at the future.”  She smiles because she knows in Whom she trusts. Her eyes are fixed on You, and so are ours.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!  

You Reap What You Sow~

Greetings and Peace be unto you~

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:9-10 (NLT).                                                                                                                      

Here’s a shout out to a fabulous gal who made a home cooked meal for a little group of us this weekend. The food rivaled anything you could have ordered at the finest restaurant, and the fact that it was prepared with love made it even more delicious. It warmed the cockles of my heart, and I thank God for her.

And it’s not like she doesn’t have anything else better to do.  A few years ago her son was in an accident that nearly took his life, and she has lovingly and steadfastly been there by his side nurturing him back to health ever since and to this day!

What I appreciate about her the most is the smile that lives plastered across her face.  I sometimes think she was born without the “frown” muscles.  Would anyone blame her if she hadn’t taken the time to prepare the meal?   

And therein lies a lesson for us all: Even when you have a million more pressing things to do, honor someone else anyway.  Cook for them, take a moment to pray for a need, rejoice with their good news even when you are still waiting for yours.

Why? Because we reap what we sow.  Actions have consequences, and good things will come from the good you do.  It’s God’s promise.      

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that when we honor someone else, You will honor us.  Help us to love with genuine affection so that we reap beautiful harvests in our own lives. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

It's a Growth Process~

Salutations~

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message version)

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

Yesterday we learned that there is a better way of doing things, and it's God's way. Doing things His way--no matter how difficult and frustrating--leads to gifts. And these gifts appear the same way fruit does in an orchard--little by little.

 

It's a growth process. You don't plant an apple seed and then see a million apples the next day.

 

The good news, however, is that eventually there's a harvest.

 

So my shout out to you today is to give yourselves a break. When you momentarily lose your mind and overreact at something--rein it in next time. Love more, be kinder, be gentler, be good, do good, have joy, promote peace, and before you know it your orchard will be the most fragrant and fruitful of all. So much so, in fact, that others will take notice.

 

Your spouse, kids, relatives, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers will marvel at how you can be so jolly all the time. Keep in mind that this takes a dedicated effort. None of us starts off perfectly lovely all of the time. Practice really does make perfect.

 

Start thinking of all the challenges in life as an oppotunity to bear fruit.

 

Tomorrow we will look at one of the number one causes of being unhappy and what all this talk about fruit has to do with it.

 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We want to do things Your way but we get in the way of it ourselves with our very human limitations. Strengthen us to do the right thing because we all need and desire the gifts You bring when we do. In Jesus' name, AMEN~